Argos suffered a 7.5 per cent like-for-like decline in the 18 weeks to January 3rd compared to the same period a year before, with total sales falling 3.6 per cent to 1,850m. However, the retailer pinpointed consumer electronics and gaming in particular as a notable highlight.

Currys and PC World owner DSGi saw like-for-like sales for the two weeks ending January 10th fall by ten per cent. However, the firm did add that the performance of its new look stores exceeded expectations”. The firm remains committed to making 95m worth of savings in the next year.